Dominic West backtracks over UK drama

Rex Features

The Wire star Dominic West has admitted that he regrets his criticism of UK television.

The Sheffield-born actor, who played Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO show, made headlines in March after claiming that the BBC struggles to produce high quality contemporary drama.

Speaking at the time, he commented: "They're dying to do The Wire and hate doing Cranford."

However, West has now attempted to distance himself from the remarks, which he made during an appearance on Radio 4's Today programme.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: "I was rather overawed by being on Today because I listen to it every day and I love it. And I was so excited about being in that studio and being taken vaguely seriously that I started pontificating on something about which I know nothing. So, no, I don't stand by anything I said."

West recently confirmed that he isn't keen to make a return to US television screens.